Irish Melancholy or Reality?

Is it just me, or does it seem like the Church has takes more than its share of hits in the media? I read in Time magazine about priests embezzling large amounts of money from parishioner donations. I saw an episode of "Cold Case" in which a group of sisters running a home for unwed mothers back in the 60's were made to look like monsters and black marketeers. Granted there is probably an element of truth in both examples, but I wonder why the media so often finds ways to be critical of the Catholic Church in particular? I was listening to an evangelical minister preach the other day and it occured to me that he portrayed himself as having a clear roadmap, an exact recipe, a surefire plan for finding God and attaining heaven. I don't think our Church does that. We are always required to think, to ponder, to pray, to search. We are called upon to pray the Scriptures and to search our hearts for Truth. I hear so many today claiming an "easy way". This so appeals to us as Americans. I hear of "The Secret" and preachers proclaiming that God wants us to be monetarily rich and in possession of the finer things. I don't think that's a Catholic outlook at all. We are not called to take the wide and paved path, but rather,we are to enter through the narrow gate. Maybe that's part of why we become such a target. We don't offer a socially acceptable approach to salvation. It takes some effort, some dedication, some denial on our part. That's what Lent is all about!